The UCLA wide receiver can't wait for Saturday's game at Arizona
Stadium
between the Bruins and 24th-ranked Wildcats.

"I'm excited, this whole week of practice is going to be off pure
emotion," said Poli-Dixon, a 6-foot-5, fourth-year junior who was born and
raised in Tucson and starred at Sabino High. "You want to do well, you want
to
go home and show your friends and family what you can do.

"I'm going to take it up a notch this week."

Poli-Dixon was hoping the game would be meaningful to the Bruins in the
Pacific-10 Conference race, but three conference losses have knocked them
out
of title contention.

"We're this close to being 7-0," he said, holding his thumb and
forefinger
inches apart. "We have so much potential, things just haven't worked out for
us so far."

UCLA (4-3, 1-3) was ranked No. 6 after beating Alabama, Fresno State
and
Michigan last month.

Since that time, the Bruins have lost at No. 7 Oregon in a game that
was
tied in the third quarter, at California in triple overtime, and to No. 18
Oregon State at the Rose Bowl last weekend despite leading by 10 points
early
in the fourth quarter.

UCLA was successful in Poli-Dixon's only previous game against Arizona
in
Tucson, handing the Wildcats a 52-28 setback two years ago - their only loss
of
the season. Poli-Dixon did his part, catching four passes for 51 yards and
one
touchdown.

Poli-Dixon, who has 29 receptions for 370 yards and two TDs, said he
didn't
follow football until he began playing as a sophomore in high school.

"Then, I fell in love with it," he said.

As a high school senior, Poli-Dixon had 44 catches for 912 yards and 17
TDs
as Sabino High went 12-1 and reached the state 4A semifinals.

"I think he's a terrific young man," Arizona coach Dick Tomey said. "We
tried hard to get Brian. He chose UCLA, he's done an outstanding job. We're
very concerned about playing against him. He's a threat because of his size
and
competitiveness."

Poli-Dixon said Arizona was one of the five schools he visited as a
high
school recruit.

"I was definitely keeping in mind playing at home," he recalled. "I had
been there my whole life, I wanted to try something else."

Since he didn't follow football as a youngster, Poli-Dixon said he
never
developed a loyalty to the Wildcats (5-2, 3-1).

"They're just an obstacle in the way," he said. "I'm from there, but
they're the enemy right now."

He will have a lot of support in the stands Saturday.

"I'll probably only get about 10 tickets, I'll buy about 40. The
money's
not coming out of my pocket," Poli-Dixon said with a smile. "My dad needs
some for his people, I've got three sisters, they're all bringing people.

"Every game is personal, when you go home, it's more personal. I'm
going to
take care of business."